03/12

Want to be the best homeowner possible, but don’t know where to start?

Let’s take a look at your utility costs – how much are you spending? There’s always wiggle room to make adjustments in your day-to-day life to save money.

If you want to be a smart homeowner and cut down on utility costs, check out some of our tips below:

Thermostat

The tricky thermostat!
If you set your thermostat at a specific temperature and never touch it, you could be wasting a lot of money year over year.

Instead of leaving the thermostat alone for extended hours/days at a time, try to set your thermostat 5-8 degrees higher in the summer and 10-15 degrees lower in the winter, when your home will be empty for 8 hours or longer. When you get home, set the thermostat back to where you like it. This little maneuver could save you 5-15% on your yearly energy costs!

Also, it’s important to keep your heating and air conditioning unit running at its best by changing the filters regularly.

Appliances

Don’t run appliances (dishwasher, clothes dryer) during the day! If you can, run these appliances later in the evening, or before bedtime. Utility companies usually charge more for energy that’s being used during peak times – i.e., during the day.

When you run your clothes washer, be sure to use the cold water setting. Almost 90% of the energy your washing machine uses is for heating the water. Yikes!

For dishwasher tricks, try using the energy-saving cycle (if you have that option). You could also try the “air-dry/no-heat” feature, or prop the door open for air drying.

Lighting

Think about using LED lightbulbs to save money. These bulbs use less energy and last longer than other bulbs – about 80% less power and 42 times longer!

Being the best homeowner takes research, care, and experience! For more real estate tips and homeowner guides, stop by Alliance Title’s Blog!